Spalding quits Sharks, calls for new blood

Earl Spalding has called for new blood at East Fremantle after resigning as the West Australian Football League club's coach on Sunday night.

The former Melbourne and Carlton key forward said he felt obliged to stand down after losing the support of the club's board of directors.

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Spalding's resignation fuelled speculation that former Peel Thunder coach Peter German would be appointed as his successor in coming weeks.

Spalding waited until after the WAFL grand finals were played on Sunday, with the Sharks contesting the reserves decider against Subiaco.

The 37-year-old said president Barrie John was the only director to approach him since East Fremantle lost the first semi-final against West Perth by five points three weeks ago.

He said John had been supportive but it was time for some other senior officials to move on, urging the club to appoint "young people with drive and enthusiasm". Spalding said yesterday: "Barrie has been very good about the whole thing but you have to start asking questions when you haven't been spoken to by a director in response to our last game.

"I am disappointed at the outcome but you can't coach without the support of the board and I didn't have that."

Spalding played 211 games with Melbourne and Carlton and was centre half-forward in the Blues' 1995 premiership side.

He returned to play alongside younger brother Scott in East Fremantle's 1998 premiership side and was an assistant coach at the club in the following two seasons.

Spalding coached the Sharks reserves to the 2000 grand final before being appointed senior coach in 2001. East Fremantle dropped to eighth in his first year at the helm but bounced back strongly to finish fourth in 2002.

Spalding said falling out at East Fremantle might force his hand in a bid to snare a job with an AFL club.

"At the end of the day I have an ambition to go further and what's happened might force the issue," he said.

"It is hard to keep improving at WAFL level as you haven't got that AFL experience around you.

"I have been out of the AFL system for five years now but hopefully can snare a job somewhere.

"There are a few jobs going out there, so it's important to speak to as many clubs as I can and see what comes up.